Hands4Hope selected Justin Xie as this month’s Youth Spotlight because of his dedication, continuous hard work, and the encouragement he offers his peers. He is the Vice President at one of our Oak Ridge High School clubs and is an exceptional member of our Youth Board.
What is your school and grade? Also, how long have you been involved with H4H?
I'm currently a senior at Oak Ridge High School. I first got involved in Hands4Hope when I was in the 8th grade (December 2013).
Why did you join Hands4Hope?
I joined Hands4Hope initially because I was looking to perform some community service for school and personal enjoyment.
How has Hands4Hope helped you in school, with your friends and family, and in life?
Hands4Hope has definitely helped me meet new people and make new friends, especially through my involvement with the Youth Board. I've also noticed sizable improvements in my communication, teamwork, and leadership skills which came from taking leadership roles within the organization.
What has your experience been like since joining?
My experience in Hands4Hope has been top-notch. Through Hands4Hope I have been able to both serve a great deal of people and discover a lot about myself, such as my passions and talents.
Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experiences with Hands4Hope?
A word of advice based on my experience with Hands4Hope would be to take on leadership roles if you are interested. Whether its working on an event planning committee or leading your school's club, you can discover a great deal about yourself or develop skills that will help you during your career such as "people-skills" and leadership. You don't need to have been involved in Hands4Hope for a really long time to take a leadership role. Some ways to take on leadership roles include but aren't limited to joining committee to help plan events that happen year-round or running for an office in your school club. Remember that leadership doesn't necessarily depend on what titles you have or had in the past. It's really about your actions and how you take initiative.